Meyer On Morris: Making His Point

By: By Paul Meyer

Men's Basketball | 11/6/2014 9:46:00 AM

Moon Township, Pa. – Andrew Toole was brief and to the point in his assessment of RMU's performance against Mansfield Tuesday at the Charles L. Sewall Center.

"I was happy with a lot of it,'' the head coach said.

For sure, Toole had to be happy with newcomer Rodney Pryor's numbers in his 22 minutes, which included 20 points, eight rebounds and five steals.

Senior Lucky Jones did what he does, which included 20 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes.

It was nice that the Colonials did what they were supposed to do in their exhibition exercise against the Division II Mountaineers. They won, 75-49, in what was the first Sewall Center playing experience for six Colonials.

But what had to be most pleasing to Toole was the play of sophomore point guard Kavon Stewart, who made his "first'' collegiate start.

In general, a college basketball team is only as successful as is its point guard. Based on this extremely small sample size, the Colonials probably will be successful -- again.

The dimunitive, quick Stewart played 29 minutes, which is about what he'll play during regular season games, and contributed six assists (against two turnovers), a steal, eight points and three rebounds.

"I thought he did a really good job,'' Toole said. "Six assists and two turnovers is terrific. I think he had opportunities for other assists that maybe didn't get finished.''

By unofficial count, Stewart's assist total could have ventured into double digits if teammates had made more shots after receiving feeds from the point guard.

Stewart, who played in 30 games as Anthony Myers-Pate's backup last season, conceded he had some jitters awaiting his first tipoff as a starter.

"I was a little nervous,'' he said.

However, it did not take long for Stewart to begin doing what he's supposed to do.

He got his first assist 43 seconds into the game with a pass to senior David Appolon, who drained a three-pointer. A minute later a pass to Jones resulted in another trey and another assist.

"I pride myself on assists,'' Stewart said. "I came down and hit Lucky and he made the shot and I'm like, 'OK … Let's get going.' It felt great.''

Stewart displayed his scoring talent late in the second half when he drove into the lane and banked in a five-footer while being fouled, then made the ensuing free throw.

Stewart finished 3-for-8 from the field, including 0-for-3 from deep, and 2-for-4 from the free throw line. It was a solid if unspectacular scoring contribution for the player who averaged 4.9 points per game last season.

"I think he pressed a little bit in terms of wanting to make a three,'' Toole said. "He's put a lot of time in on his shooting, and he's shot it really well in practice. During the game, he has a million different things going on, whether it's getting guys organized and communicating. Sometimes I think he remembers the shooting part toward the end. He did a really good job of getting into the lane and organizing us offensively. He's our best creator of offense. The biggest thing for him is just staying as detailed as he can defensively. I think if he can get there, then he'll be terrific.''

Perhaps most significantly, Stewart has impressed former Colonial point guard Velton Jones, who joined the staff this season. Jones' primary emphasis is working with the point guards.

"He's doing excellent right now as far as trying to lead the team, trying to do everything the right way, trying to be detailed,'' Jones said.

Because of Stewart's relative inexperience, it's important for Colonial fans to remember that point guard is generally acknowledged as the hardest position to learn and play.

"I totally agree with that,'' Stewart said. "I think I have an infectious personality. I'm the main one in the locker room getting guys ready, (maybe) joking around. I think part of it is basketball and part of it is how you treat guys off the court. You don't know how guys are feeling when they come in. Maybe they had a hard day in class. I'll spot that immediately and I'll go over to talk to them. Maybe I'll tell a joke to wake them up and get them ready.''

Jones knows full well how difficult the point guard position is.

"You have to know every spot,'' he said. "You have to be the most conditioned. You have to know every position. You have to know everything inside and out. You have to be the coach on the floor, so I definitely believe it's one of the hardest positions.''

Bear in mind, too, that it isn't just during games that all this is on the point guard.

"Every day,'' Jones said. "You have to bring energy. You have to bring leadership. You have to bring it every day.''

Which can be mentally draining.

"For sure,'' Jones said. "There are times when you come in and you don't know if you can do it -- if you feel like leading or if you feel like doing certain stuff. Everyone has their days where it just doesn't happen, but I think that's why I'm here, to try to help him not have too many bad days (and) to have more good days than bad.''

Jones also works with freshmen guards Jafar Kinsey, who will be the primary backup to Stewart, and Marcquise Reed, who's more of a shooting guard but who also will play some at the point. Kinsey and Reed also will have their "bad days.''

"The reason I'm here is to help them deal with those types of battles,'' Jones said.

Kinsey against Mansfield played 23 minutes and produced seven points and three steals. Reed in 19 minutes contributed eight points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals and a turnover.

As has been noted, though, Jones will spend a lot of time with Stewart as he transitions from a backup point guard as a freshman to the starting point guard as a sophomore.

It's been a mutual meeting of the minds.

"He may hit me up sometimes and want to work out or just watch film,'' Jones said. "Sometimes if I don't hear from him I text him about working out, watching film or just getting in the gym."

As for Stewart's free throw shooting, he made only 60.2 percent of his 98 attempts last season. That's pretty much unacceptable for a player who figures to have the ball a lot, especially in the final minutes of games.

It's pretty much exactly what Jones shot in his freshman season at Robert Morris -- 58.9 percent.

"I don't know what happened my freshman year,'' Jones said. "Coming into college, I was a good free throw shooter.''

After his freshman season, Jones became a very good free throw shooter.

He raised his percentage to 70.8 his sophomore season, then boosted it to just over 76 percent during his final two seasons. He finished as a 71.9 percent free throw shooter and holds program records for free throws made (495) and free throws attempted (688).

Think maybe Jones has made Stewart's free throw shooting a priority?

"We work on it every day,'' Jones said. "I make him run every time he misses. It's something he's not great at right now. I wasn't great at it, either, so I want him to work on it because I know they're important.''

Jones said he improved with confidence and by using the same routine on every free throw.

"I'm trying to work on with him on keeping the same routine and always staying confident no matter if you miss one or two,'' Jones said. "Just stay confident.''

Perhaps the most confident member of the Colonials against Mansfield was Pryor.

The 6'5'' junior college transfer was seven of nine from the field, including a Karvel Anderson-like 6-for-8 from three-point range.

"It's been a true blessing to be out here with these guys," Pryor said. "The fact that I haven't played basketball in two and-a-half years due to injuries, being out there is just a blessing to be a Division I basketball player.''

And about his shooting expertise?

"When I saw that first one go in, every time I caught the ball I was shot-ready,'' Pryor said. "I made extra passes to keep the defense honest. Then the lanes opened up and I saw the basket. When I get a good look at the basket I feel like I can make it every single time.''

Which he just about did.

"I don't know if he's going to go 6-for-8 every night, but he has the capability when his feet are set to knock it down," Toole said. "That was one of the reasons that we recruited him. He's had some days in practice where he really gets it going. He has great size and a high release, and so he can get it off at times even when it's contested. Rodney obviously found himself open and shot it with confidence like we want him to. He's a guy we're going to rely on to make shots. We think he has great potential.''

Pryor certainly enjoyed being able to play again.

"In junior college, both times I got injured in preseason, so to get out there and get a full game, it was great to be out there," Pryor said. "Hitting shots helps.''

On the other hand, junior Stephan Bennett did not hit many shots. But he did attempt a three-pointer -- and missed. The 6'9'' Bennett said a few weeks ago he wanted to shoot some threes this season.

"I was OK with it,'' Toole said of Bennett's attempt from deep. "He was wide open. He's made them in practice. It's something he's worked on. I'd like him to get some more layups to go along with the three-point attempt. That's sometimes what 6'9'' guys do to offset some of the jump shots. He's got to be more consistent with his defensive energy regardless of whether he makes or he misses. It's something we'll continue to talk to him about. He picked up two fouls in the first half, and I think both of them were because he was worrying about what happened on jump shooting instead of worrying about how to get a stop, and that can't happen.''

Bennett, who was 2-for-9 overall from the field, scored four points.

The exhibition game brought back some memories from last season. For various reasons, the 2013-14 Colonials' roster was whittled to eight players just after midway through the season.

Three players didn't dress for the Mansfield game. Freshman Elijah Minnie and senior Charles Oliver are recovering from viral infections. Junior Aaron Tate served a suspension for violating team rules.

The Colonials open this season Friday, Nov. 14, against Lafayette in the Sewall Center.

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